# Brand New Congress

Brand New Congress was an American political action committee with the mission to elect hundreds of new progressive congressional representatives in line with the campaign's political platform.

## Background

Brand New Congress was a volunteer-led American political organization that intends to run hundreds of campaigns for United States Congress with candidates of the organization's choosing by the 2018 midterm elections, regardless of party affiliation. The organization planned to make staffing and fundraising decisions for all its candidates at once. About 20 volunteers from Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign formed the group in April 2016 as Sanders conceded the primary to Hillary Clinton. They planned the organization to support Sanders's platform and carry its supporters' momentum into policymaking. Brand New Congress planned to announce 50 candidates by March 2017 and over 400 by July 2017. Of the 535 total seats in the United States Congress (House and Senate), 468 were up for reelection in 2018. The group ran both Democratic and Republican candidates, depending on regional demographics, as well as independents when an incumbent wins the primary. Brand New Congress required candidates to align with Sanders's presidential platform, regardless of party affiliation. While there are large differences in Republican and Democratic policies, Brand New Congress hopes that people will unify under the goal of reforming Congress.
   The grassroots are better qualified to run electoral campaigns than Democratic party operatives ... They just need to be given the tools, the data, the offices and the structure to succeed.
The group attended the July 2016 Democratic National Convention to canvass for support in protester sites and throughout the city. By then the group had raised $85,000, about 90% of it in small donations. Its email list contained 20,000 addresses. Brand New Congress began a tour of 100 cities in mid-2016. Founding members of the group were encouraged by the success of the Sanders campaign's grassroots fundraising, which surpassed the Clinton campaign's several times in monthly income. As of October 2016, the group was accepting nominations for future candidates and openly developing its economic platform.
In March 2017, Brand New Congress announced that it had teamed up with Justice Democrats to further its goals. On March 14, 2023, it announced that it would cease operations.

## Candidates
### 2018

In the 2018 primary season, Brand New Congress officially endorsed 30 candidates:
| Candidate | State | Party | Office | Primary date | Primary result | % | General result | % |
| Robb Ryerse | Arkansas | Republican | Arkansas's 3rd congressional district | May 22, 2018 | Lost | 15.8% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Roza Calderon | California | Democratic | California's 4th congressional district | June 5, 2018 | Lost | 6.2% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Ryan Khojasteh | California | Democratic | California's 12th congressional district | June 5, 2018 | Lost | 4.6% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Chardo Richardson | Florida | Democratic | Florida's 7th congressional district | August 28, 2018 | Lost | 13.8% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Michael Hepburn | Florida | Democratic | Florida's 27th congressional district | August 28, 2018 | Lost | 6.1% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Anthony Clark | Illinois | Democratic | Illinois's 7th congressional district | March 20, 2018 | Lost | 26.1% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| David Gill | Illinois | Democratic | Illinois's 13th congressional district | March 20, 2018 | Lost | 14.4% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Brent Welder | Kansas | Democratic | Kansas's 3rd congressional district | August 7, 2018 | Lost | 33.9% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| James Thompson | Kansas | Democratic | Kansas's 4th congressional district | August 7, 2018 | Won | 65.3% | Lost | 40.2% |
| Zak Ringelstein | Maine | Democratic | U.S. Senator from Maine | June 12, 2018 | Won | 100% | Lost | 10.3% |
| Rob Davidson | Michigan | Democratic | Michigan's 2nd congressional district | August 7, 2018 | Won | 100% | Lost | 43.0% |
| David Benac | Michigan | Democratic | Michigan's 6th congressional district | August 7, 2018 | Lost | 21.3% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Cori Bush | Missouri | Democratic | Missouri's 1st congressional district | August 7, 2018 | Lost | 36.9% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| John Heenan | Montana | Democratic | Montana's at-large congressional district | June 5, 2018 | Lost | 31.7% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Amy Vilela | Nevada | Democratic | Nevada's 4th congressional district | June 12, 2018 | Lost | 9.2% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Mindi Messmer | New Hampshire | Democratic | New Hampshire's 1st congressional district | September 11, 2018 | Lost | 9.7% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Peter Jacob | New Jersey | Democratic | New Jersey's 7th congressional district | June 5, 2018 | Lost | 19.1% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez | New York | Democratic | New York's 14th congressional district | June 26, 2018 | Won | 57.5% | Won | 78.0% |
| Richard Watkins | North Carolina | Democratic | North Carolina's 4th congressional district | May 8, 2018 | Lost | 6.5% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Jenny Marshall | North Carolina | Democratic | North Carolina's 5th congressional district | May 8, 2018 | Lost | 45.6% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Marc Whitmire | Tennessee | Independent | Tennessee's 2nd congressional district | N/A | N/A | N/A | Lost | 0.2% |
| Danielle Mitchell | Tennessee | Democratic | Tennessee's 3rd congressional district | August 2, 2018 | Won | 100% | Lost | 34.5% |
| J. Darnell Jones | Texas | Democratic | Texas's 2nd congressional district | March 6, 2018 First round | Lost | 22.1% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Vanessa Adia | Texas | Democratic | Texas's 12th congressional district | March 6, 2018 | Won | 100% | Lost | 33.9% |
| Adrienne Bell | Texas | Democratic | Texas's 14th congressional district | March 6, 2018 | Won | 79.8% | Lost | 39.2% |
| Rick Treviño | Texas | Democratic | Texas's 23rd congressional district | March 6, 2018 First round | Advanced | 17.5% | Runoff | N/A |
| Rick Treviño | Texas | Democratic | Texas's 23rd congressional district | May 22, 2018 Runoff | Lost | 33.2% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Linsey Fagan | Texas | Democratic | Texas's 26th congressional district | March 6, 2018 | Won | 52.7% | Lost | 39.0% |
| Dorothy Gasque | Washington | Democratic | Washington's 3rd congressional district | August 7, 2018 | Lost | 4.9% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Sarah Smith | Washington | Democratic | Washington's 9th congressional district | August 7, 2018 | Advanced | 26.9% | Lost | 31.2% |
| Paula Jean Swearengin | West Virginia | Democratic | U.S. Senator from West Virginia | May 8, 2018 | Lost | 30.3% | Did not qualify | N/A |

### 2020

Brand New Congress endorsed 46 candidates for the Senate and House. Nine House candidates and one Senate candidate made it to the general election (two incumbents, eight newcomers). Both incumbents and two newcomers won.

#### U.S. Senate

| Candidate | State | Party | Office | Primary date | Primary result | % | General result | % |
| Jessica Scarane | Delaware | Democratic | U.S. Senator from Delaware | September 15, 2020 | Lost | 21.3% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Kimberly Graham | Iowa | Democratic | U.S. Senator from Iowa | June 2, 2020 | Lost | 15% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Charles Booker | Kentucky | Democratic | U.S. Senator from Kentucky | June 23, 2020 | Lost | 42.6% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Betsy Sweet | Maine | Democratic | U.S. Senator from Maine | July 14, 2020 | Lost | 23.2% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Maggie Toulouse Oliver | New Mexico | Democratic | U.S. Senator from New Mexico | June 2, 2020 | Withdrew | N/A | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Paula Jean Swearengin | West Virginia | Democratic | U.S. Senator from West Virginia | June 9, 2020 | Won | 38.8% | Lost | 27% |

#### U.S. House

| Candidate | State | Party | Office | Primary date | Primary result | % | General result | % |
| Eva Putzova | Arizona | Democratic | Arizona's 1st congressional district | August 4, 2020 | Lost | 41.2% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Kimberly Williams | California | Democratic | California's 16th congressional district | March 3, 2020 | Lost | 5.7% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Peter Mathews | California | Democratic | California's 47th congressional district | March 3, 2020 | Lost | 11% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Jen Perelman | Florida | Democratic | Florida's 23rd congressional district | August 18, 2020 | Lost | 28% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Michael Hepburn | Florida | Democratic | Florida's 27th congressional district | August 25, 2020 | Withdrew | N/A | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Nabilah Islam | Georgia | Democratic | Georgia's 7th congressional district | June 9, 2020 | Lost | 12.3% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Michael Owens | Georgia | Democratic | Georgia's 13th congressional district | June 9, 2020 | Lost | 13.2% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Robert Emmons Jr. | Illinois | Democratic | Illinois's 1st congressional district | March 17, 2020 | Lost | 10.3% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Anthony Clark | Illinois | Democratic | Illinois's 7th congressional district | March 17, 2020 | Lost | 13.0% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Rachel Ventura | Illinois | Democratic | Illinois's 11th congressional district | March 17, 2020 | Lost | 41.3% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Jim Harper | Indiana | Democratic | Indiana's 1st congressional district | June 2, 2020 | Lost | 10.1% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Shelia Bryant | Maryland | Democratic | Maryland's 4th congressional district | June 2, 2020 | Lost | 18.8% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Mckayla Wilkes | Maryland | Democratic | Maryland's 5th congressional district | June 2, 2020 | Lost | 26.7% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Alex Morse | Massachusetts | Democratic | Massachusetts's 1st congressional district | September 1, 2020 | Lost | 41.2% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Ihssane Leckey | Massachusetts | Democratic | Massachusetts's 4th congressional district | September 1, 2020 | Lost | 11.1% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Jon Hoadley | Michigan | Democratic | Michigan's 6th congressional district | August 4, 2020 | Won | 52.3% | Lost | 40.2% |
| Rashida Tlaib (inc.) | Michigan | Democratic | Michigan's 13th congressional district | August 4, 2020 | Won | 66.3% | Won | 78.1% |
| Cori Bush | Missouri | Democratic | Missouri's 1st congressional district | August 4, 2020 | Won | 48.6% | Won | 78.8% |
| Kara Eastman | Nebraska | Democratic | Nebraska's 2nd congressional district | May 12, 2020 | Won | 62.1% | Lost | 46.2% |
| Zina Spezakis | New Jersey | Democratic | New Jersey's 9th congressional district | July 7, 2020 | Lost | 14.9% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Melanie D’Arrigo | New York | Democratic | New York's 3rd congressional district | June 23, 2020 | Lost | 25.5% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Shaniyat Chowdhury | New York | Democratic | New York's 5th congressional district | June 23, 2020 | Lost | 23.1% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Mel Gagarin | New York | Democratic | New York's 6th congressional district | June 23, 2020 | Lost | 21.2% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Isiah James | New York | Democratic | New York's 9th congressional district | June 23, 2020 | Lost | 9.4% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Lindsey Boylan | New York | Democratic | New York's 10th congressional district | June 23, 2020 | Lost | 25% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Lauren Ashcraft | New York | Democratic | New York's 12th congressional district | June 23, 2020 | Lost | 13.3% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (inc.) | New York | Democratic | New York's 14th congressional district | June 23, 2020 | Won | 72.6% | Won | 71.6% |
| Tomás Ramos | New York | Democratic | New York's 15th congressional district | June 23, 2020 | Lost | 2.6% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Jamaal Bowman | New York | Democratic | New York's 16th congressional district | June 23, 2020 | Won | 55.5% | Won | 84.0% |
| Morgan Harper | Ohio | Democratic | Ohio's 3rd congressional district | April 28, 2020 | Lost | 31.7% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Nick Rubando | Ohio | Democratic | Ohio's 5th congressional district | April 28, 2020 | Won | 51.4% | Lost | 32.0% |
| Albert Lee | Oregon | Democratic | Oregon's 3rd congressional district | May 19, 2020 | Lost | 16.8% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Doyle Canning | Oregon | Democratic | Oregon's 4th congressional district | May 19, 2020 | Lost | 15.4% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Mark Gamba | Oregon | Democratic | Oregon's 5th congressional district | May 19, 2020 | Lost | 22.9% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Corey Strong | Tennessee | Democratic | Tennessee's 9th congressional district | August 6, 2020 | Lost | 14.8% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Michael Siegel | Texas | Democratic | Texas's 10th congressional district | March 3, 2020 First round | Advanced | 44% | Runoff | N/A |
| Michael Siegel | Texas | Democratic | Texas's 10th congressional district | July 7, 2020 Runoff | Won | 54.2% | Lost | 45.3% |
| Adrienne Bell | Texas | Democratic | Texas's 14th congressional district | March 3, 2020 | Won | 61.8% | Lost | 38.4% |
| Peter Khalil | Washington | Democratic | Washington's 3rd congressional district | August 4, 2020 | Withdrew | N/A | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Chris Armitage | Washington | Democratic | Washington's 5th congressional district | August 4, 2020 | Withdrew | 12.1% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Rebecca Parson | Washington | Democratic | Washington's 6th congressional district | August 4, 2020 | Lost | 13.5% | Did not qualify | N/A |

### 2021
#### U.S. House

| Candidate | State | Office | Primary date | Primary result | % | General result | % |
| Selinda Guerrero | New Mexico | New Mexico's 1st congressional district | March 31, 2021 | Eliminated | 6.53% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Nina Turner | Ohio | Ohio's 11th congressional district | August 3, 2021 | Lost | 44.5% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick | Florida | Florida's 20th congressional district | November 2, 2021 | Won | 23.76% | Won | 78.98% |

### 2022
#### U.S. Senate

| Candidate | State | Office | Primary date | Primary result | % | General result | % |
| Charles Booker | Kentucky | U.S. Senator from Kentucky | May 17, 2022 | Won | 73.2% | Lost | 38.2% |
| Morgan Harper | Ohio | U.S. Senator from Ohio | May 3, 2022 | Lost | 17.7% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| John Fetterman | Pennsylvania | U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania | May 17, 2022 | Won | 58.6% | Won | 51.2% |
| Malcolm Kenyatta | Pennsylvania | U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania | May 17, 2022 | Lost | 10.9% | Did not qualify | N/A |

#### U.S. House

| Candidate | State | Office | Primary date | Primary result | % | General result | % |
| Angelica Dueñas | California | California's 29th congressional district | June 7, 2022 | Advanced | 22.8% | Lost | 41.5% |
| Shervin Aazami | California | California's 32nd congressional district | June 7, 2022 | Lost | 6.8% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Katie Porter (inc.) | California | California's 47th congressional district | June 7, 2022 | Advanced | 51.7% | Won | 51.7% |
| Maxwell Frost | Florida | Florida's 10th congressional district | August 23, 2022 | Won | 34.8% | Won | 59.0% |
| Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (inc.) | Florida | Florida's 20th congressional district | August 23, 2022 | Won | 65.6% | Won | 72.3% |
| Marsha Williams | Illinois | Illinois's 17th congressional district | June 28, 2022 | Lost | 6.9% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Andy Levin (inc.) | Michigan | Michigan's 11th congressional district | August 2, 2022 | Lost | 40.1% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Rashida Tlaib (inc.) | Michigan | Michigan's 12th congressional district | August 2, 2022 | Won | 63.8% | Won | 70.8% |
| Cori Bush (inc.) | Missouri | Missouri's 1st congressional district | August 2, 2022 | Won | 69.5% | Won | 72.9% |
| Tom Winter | Montana | Montana's 1st congressional district | June 7, 2022 | Lost | 8.2% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Amy Vilela | Nevada | Nevada's 1st congressional district | June 14, 2022 | Lost | 18.5% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Imani Oakley | New Jersey | New Jersey's 10th congressional district | June 7, 2022 | Lost | 10.2% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Melanie D'Arrigo | New York | New York's 3rd congressional district | August 23, 2022 | Lost | 15.8% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Brittany Ramos DeBarros | New York | New York's 11th congressional district | August 23, 2022 | Lost | 20.8% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Rana Abdelhamid | New York | New York's 12th congressional district | August 23, 2022 | Withdrew | N/A | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (inc.) | New York | New York's 14th congressional district | August 23, 2022 | Won | 100% | Won | 67.2% |
| Jamaal Bowman (inc.) | New York | New York's 16th congressional district | August 23, 2022 | Won | 57.1% | Won | 60.2% |
| Erica Smith | North Carolina | North Carolina's 1st congressional district | May 17, 2022 | Lost | 31.1% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Nida Allam | North Carolina | North Carolina's 4th congressional district | May 17, 2022 | Lost | 37.0% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Nina Turner | Ohio | Ohio's 11th congressional district | May 3, 2022 | Lost | 33.7% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Doyle Canning | Oregon | Oregon's 4th congressional district | May 17, 2022 | Lost | 16.2% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Jerry Dickinson | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district | May 17, 2022 | Lost | 10.9% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Odessa Kelly | Tennessee | Tennessee's 7th congressional district | August 4, 2022 | Won | 100% | Lost | 38.1% |
| Michelle Vallejo | Texas | Texas's 15th congressional district | March 1, 2022 First round | Advanced | 20.1% | Runoff | N/A |
| Michelle Vallejo | Texas | Texas's 15th congressional district | May 24, 2022 Runoff | Won | 50.1% | Lost | 44.8% |
| Jessica Cisneros | Texas | Texas's 28th congressional district | March 1, 2022 First round | Advanced | 46.8% | Runoff | N/A |
| Jessica Cisneros | Texas | Texas's 28th congressional district | May 24, 2022 Runoff | Lost | 49.7% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Jessica Mason | Texas | Texas's 30th congressional district | March 1, 2022 | Lost | 3.4% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Greg Casar | Texas | Texas's 35th congressional district | March 1, 2022 | Won | 61.2% | Won | 72.6% |
| Becca Balint | Vermont | Vermont's at-large congressional district | August 9, 2022 | Won | 61.0% | Won | 60.5% |
| Kesha Ram Hinsdale | Vermont | Vermont's at-large congressional district | August 9, 2022 | Withdrew | N/A | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Rebecca Parson | Washington | Washington's 6th congressional district | August 2, 2022 | Lost | 9.3% | Did not qualify | N/A |
| Stephanie Gallardo | Washington | Washington's 9th congressional district | August 2, 2022 | Lost | 15.6% | Did not qualify | N/A |